Animation MA

The versatility of animation allows for diverse storytelling and artistic expression, appealing to audiences of all ages and interests. Advancements in technology have made animation production more accessible and cost effective. This, paired with the increasing demand for entertainment content, has caused a rapid growth in the animation industry, plus a need for animators. 

Become an active part of our creative community of practice and research active staff and postgraduate students. Work closely with students from other design disciplines, such as virtual and augmented reality. Study a unique set of modules that include entrepreneurship and design thinking, which will enable you to make well-informed decisions and apply these to your design outcomes. 

We work closely with our industry partners, including animation studios, production companies and creative agencies. You will have opportunities to attend lectures and workshops led by industry experts to learn from their insights into industry practices and trends. There is potential for you to establish your own business venture with support of the Kickstart scheme at York St John University.

Explore projects informed by ethical and cultural considerations in animation. This includes:

• Intellectual property
• Representation
• Diversity
• Inclusivity
• The impact of animated media on society

This will enable you to recognise the ethical considerations and the social impact of emerging technologies. You will also be introduced to a range of historical and emerging challenges with the animation industry, including artificial intelligence and gender representation.

How you will study

You can study this postgraduate course full time.

This course will take 1 year to complete. You will study:

• 5 compulsory modules

You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications.

Modules

Teaching and learning

You will be taught through a range of teaching methods such as:

• Lectures
• Workshops
• Visiting speakers
• Field visits
• Work related learning
• Supervised practical projects
• Seminar discussions

Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.

Assessment

This course is assessed only through course work, which could include:

• Portfolio work
• Creating artefacts
• Presentation of visual works
• Research reports

You will receive feedback to enable progression into the next project, usually at the same time as your portfolio review to allow for ongoing comprehensive assessment.

Qualifications

The minimum entry requirements for this course are:

• A 2:1 degree in a related subject

If your degree is in an unrelated subject, but you can provide evidence of relevant professional experience, your application may still be considered.

International students

If you are an international student you will need to show that your qualifications match our entry requirements.

Information about international qualifications and entry requirements can be found on our International pages.

If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.

International entry requirements

Additional requirements

Interview

You will need to attend an interview for this course. Once you have applied, you will receive further information about your interview from our Admissions team.

Portfolio

As part of the interview you will be required to demonstrate examples of your personal animation practice.

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)

If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission.

Terms and conditions

Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.

UK 2025 - 2026

The tuition fee for 2025 entry to this postgraduate course is £8,600 for full time study.

These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.

Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

International 2025 entry

The tuition fee for 2025 entry to this postgraduate course is £11,800 for 1 year of full time study

These costs apply to all students living outside the UK.

Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.

Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.

International Fees and Funding

Tuition fees

Alumni Scholarships

If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.

Scholarships for alumni

Additional costs and financial support

Course-related costs

While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.

Accommodation and living costs

View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.

Where could Animation MA take you?

This degree could lead you to a career working in animation in a range of industries including television and marketing. Through working on practical activities with links to industry you will gain key professional skills. You will also gain a variety of transferable skills that would be valuable in other industries, such as problem solving and creativity.

You will have an advantage in career paths including:

• Animator
• Game artist, developer or designer
• Illustrator
• VFX artist
• Advertising art director
• Television of film producer

Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study.

Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. 

Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:

• Employer events
• LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
• Workshops on application writing and interview skills
• Work experience and volunteering opportunities
• Personalised career advice

This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.